How to Use irritate in a Sentence

irritate

verb
  • Harsh soaps can irritate the skin.
  • The other passengers were irritated by the child's rudeness.
  • It's his arrogance that really irritates me.
  • The best arm warmers fit well, stay in place and don’t irritate the skin.
    — Melissa Nott, chicagotribune.com, 17 Apr. 2021
  • All of the items are made of polyester satin which won’t irritate your skin or snag your hair.
    — Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023
  • These are the little things that irritate the hell out of me.
    — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 7 June 2023
  • Keep in Mind The scent is very strong and can be irritating.
    — Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2024
  • Note that the strength of this treatment could sting or irritate skin.
    — Nicole Saporita, Good Housekeeping, 20 June 2023
  • Your dog should not wear the e-collar at all times, as this can irritate the skin.
    — Lauren Farrell, chicagotribune.com, 17 Apr. 2021
  • Lastly, make sure that the Achilles notch of the shoe does not irritate the back portion of your heel (the Achilles tendon).
    — Brett Williams, Men's Health, 15 Nov. 2022
  • Williams was irritated by the way she was treated at the net.
    — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 July 2019
  • And even those that are safe for down there can still irritate — or burn — your skin if left on for too long.
    — Leah Campano, Seventeen, 9 Feb. 2023
  • This set is made of a breathable polyester blend that won’t irritate skin.
    — Ashley Mateo, WSJ, 16 Jan. 2019
  • The pair comes in a pack of four up to 13P and features a tagless design that won't irritate your skin.
    — Courtney Leiva, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023
  • Marigolds can also irritate the skin and cause a rash in some people.
    — Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Too many products can irritate and too many steps may tempt you to skip.
    — Kristin Koch, Seventeen, 1 Aug. 2020
  • And beaning them with a rock would irritate or hurt them.
    — Mary Forgione, latimes.com, 7 June 2019
  • The Lakers don’t want any piece of this irritating cowbell of a team in the playoffs.
    — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
  • But seeing you in a tank top in front of the piano might irritate some people.
    — Billboard Italy, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2023
  • Also, the Cane Toad emits a toxin that irritates skin and eyes.
    — Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Dry air can irritate the sinuses and make a cough worse.
    — Emily Dashiell, Verywell Health, 12 Dec. 2024
  • And, if so, what kind of substance irritates its victims to death?
    — Siddhartha Mukherjee, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
  • Many of the cars shudder and jerk and frighten and irritate owners.
    — Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 24 July 2019
  • What is irritating about the movie is that it is presented as fact, even though that does not seem to be the case.
    — Jennifer Wright, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 Apr. 2019
  • Using only soap can harm and irritate the skin on your face.
    — Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Apr. 2022
  • Be sure to use a mild soap and avoid using any flea shampoo, as this could irritate your dog's skin.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2022
  • Cut daffodils exude a thick sap that can irritate the skin.
    — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2021
  • That was the aspect of mask-wearing that seemed to irritate people most.
    — Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2022
  • One person, however, admitted that they would have been irritated as well if a spouse changed the day’s plan without consulting them first.
    — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 21 June 2025
  • Smith found that while the irregular shape and roughness of the lunar dust still irritates the lungs, its effects are significantly less than that of air pollution.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 23 June 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irritate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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